Chrysanthemum plant named `Bronze Fashion Time`

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of Chrysanthemum producing bronze flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum botanically classified as Dendranthema grandiflora. The varietal denomination of the new Chrysanthemum is `Bronze Fashion Time`.

The new variety was discovered as a single branch natural mutation in a controlled cultivated planting of the variety `Fashion Time` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,935). The new variety has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Ventura County, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

`Bronze Fashion Time` is a pot forcing Chrysanthemum plant variety that produces bronze flowers and dark green foliage.

COMPARISON WITH PARENT

Flowers of the new variety are of bronze coloration as compared to medium pink flowers of its parent `Fashion Time`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph shows a typical specimen of the new variety with colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following description of the new variety is of specimens grown in a greenhouse in Ventura County, Calif. in the month of June. `Bronze Fashion Time` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length and cultural conditions. In the following description color is described by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully in a greenhouse under temperature conditions averaging about 65° F. at night and about 75°-85° F. during the day under light conditions of about 5,000-6,000 foot candles. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once and lateral buds removed. One treatment of growth regulator B-9 at 2000 ppm may be used. It has been observed that the shelf life of `Bronze Fashion Time` is about 21 days with the response time of about 8 weeks. The new variety may be produced as a spray or disbud; the following description is with respect to a plant produced as a disbud.

Plant

Habit: Upright.

Height: About 31 cm after application of growth regulator as described.

Branching characteristics: Average quantity, heavy stems.

Number of breaks from pinch: About 3 per.

Typical container size to be grown in: 6", 8" and 10".

Length of lateral branches: Average -- about 24 cm.

Stem color: Near 144D.

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: Alternate.

Number of leaves per lateral branch:

Average number leaves per lateral branch.--About 15 fully mature leaves.

(1) Size.--Length -- Average about 9.4 cm. Width -- Average about 5.4 cm.

(2) Shape.--Ovate.

(3) Attachment.--Petioled.

(4) Apex.--Acute.

(5) Base.--Truncate, with taper to petiole.

(6) Color.--Mature, Young.

Top.--Near 137A, Near 147A.

Bottom.--Near 138B, Near 137C.

Margin: Deeply lobed with mild serrations.

Aspect: Slight undulation.

Surface characteristics: Top -- pubescent; underside-- pubescent.

Petiole:

(1) Length.--About 2.1 cm.

(2) Color.--Near 143C.

Stipule: Not present.

Flower

Flower form: Decorative.

Flower color (general): Orange/bronze with slightly lighter colored outer florets.

Blooms: About 4 to 5 blooms average per stem.

(1) Diameter.--Average about 9 cm.

(2) Depth.--Average about 3 cm.

(3) Longevity on plant.--About 21 day shelf life.

Sepal:

(1) Number.--About 40.

(2) Color.--Near 137A.

(3) General appearance.--All sepals pubescent, outer sepals fleshy.

Peduncle:

(1) Length.--Average about 5.5 cm.

(2) Habit.--Very sturdy, almost completely straight, slight outward curve.

(3) Surface.--Pubescent.

(4) Color.--Near 146C.

Bud:

(1) Shape.--Spherical with flat top.

(2) Diameter.--Avg. about 1.2 cm average.

(3) Color.--Near 138A.

(4) Height.--About 0.6 cm.

Ray florets:

(1) Number per flower.--Average about 310.

(2) Texture.--Matte, two deep ridges with about 7 to 10 small ridges.

(3) Shape.--Broadly elliptic.

(4) Apex.--2 to 4 obtuse lobes.

(5) Base.--Tapered, fused about 0.5 cm from base.

(6) Margin.--Entire.

(7) Aspect.--Slightly reflexed back, slight undulation.

(9) Length.--Avg. About 4.3 cm.

(10) Width.--Avg. About 1.8 cm.

Color -- top side.--Immature: Near 169D. Mature: Near 169C. Fading: Near 168D.

Color -- under side.--Immature: Near 169D. Mature: Near 169C. Fading: Near 168D.

Disc florets:

(1) Number per flower.--About 85.

(2) Texture.--Glossy.

(3) Shape.--Tubular.

(4) Margin.--Entire.

(5) Length.--About 0.5 cm.

(6) Width.--About 0.1 cm.

Color.--Immature: Near 1B. Mature: Near 6A.

Fragrance.--Fragrance of bloom is faint, musty.

Reproductive Organs

Ray florets:

(1) Ovary shape.--Narrow sphere.

(2) Stigma shape.--3-forked.

(3) Stigma color.--Near 15A.

(4) Style length.--Average about 0.6 cm.

(5) Style color.--Near 154B.

Disc florets:

(1) Stigma shape.--Linear.

(2) Style length.--About 0.3 cm.

(3) Stigma color.--Near 10A.

(4) Style color.--Near 2D.

Stamens:

(1) Stamen number.--About 6.

(2) Anther length.--About 0.1 cm.

(3) Pollen quantity.--Minimal.

(4) Pollen color.--Near 23A. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant substantially as herein shown and described. 